Argyrotaenia amatana

Status

NATIVE

PORT INTERCEPT | DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Argyrotaenia amatana (Dyar) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Common name: pondapple leafroller moth

Synonyms: chioccana (Tortrix), chiococcana (Argyrotoxa), neibana (Argyrotaenia), ochrochroa (Argyrotaenia)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 4.5–6.0 mm (males); 5.0–7.0 mm (females)

Argyrotaenia amatana is a highly variable and sexually dimorphic species, making it difficult to diagnose externally. Males have two distinct forms. In the first form, the forewing has the ground color almost uniformly yellow and fasciae solidly banded, giving a strongly contrasting overall appearance. In the second form, the forewing is much more mottled with median fascia and subapical blotch varying from mahogany to dark brown. Females are more uniform in appearance, usually with a strong purple wash to much of the fasciae. The hindwing of both sexes is usually, but not always, orange.

Male genitalia are characterized by a relatively broad, spatulate uncus; reduced socii; and rounded, membranous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a ductus bursae with a sclerotized plate near the ostium and a large, hook-shaped signum in the corpus bursae with a well-developed capitulum.

Larval Morphology

Larval morphology is unknown for this species, but is likely similar to other species of Argyrotaenia.

Similar Species

Argyrotaenia amatana is similar to many species of Argyrotaenia but can usually be identified by its orange hindwing. In Florida, it is closest to A. ivana, but A. ivana has a much shorter, broader uncus.

Distribution

Argyrotaenia amatana is distributed in peninsular Florida and the northern Caribbean (The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands (Austin et al. 2019Austin et al. 2019:
Austin, K. A., Dombroskie, J. J., Matthews, D. L., Miller, J. Y. 2019. A review of the Archipini of The Bahamas with the description of a new species of Argyrotaenia Stephens (Tortricidae). Journal of the Lepidopteristsrsquo; Society. 73(1): 5-17., Austin and Dombroskie 2020bAustin and Dombroskie 2020b:
Austin, K. A., Dombroskie, J. J. 2020b. A taxonomic revision of the Archipini of the Caribbean (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae, Tortricinae). ZooKeys. 982: 33-147.). Almost all records are from low elevations (<100 m), but high elevation records exist for mountains on Cuba and Hispaniola.

Biology

Little is known of the life cycle of Argyrotaenia amatana beyond a list of host plants. It is a highly polyphagous species, having been recorded feeding on 26 plant species in 17 families. It may be an occasional greenhouse pest. Like many other members of Argyrotaenia, larvae feed by tying two or more leaves together.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.